Actuator

ABSTRACT

A device for translating longitudinal motion into rotational movement. Combination guide and tie rods are provided, along which one or more pistons run, which pistons are linked to a rotatable yoke member by removable linking means. Removal of such linking means permits piston movement without resultant yoke rotation.

United States Patent Sheesley et al. [4 1 Dec. 5, 1972 ACTUATOR 3,460,799 8/1969 Sanctuary ..92/138 [72] Inventors: John M. Sheesley, Houston; Ronald O N PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS A. Gulick, Sugarland, both of Tex.

657,318 9/1951 Great Britain [73] Assignee: Research Engineering Company, 774,020 5 957 Great Britain Houston, Tex. 1 [22] Filed: 9 1970 Primary Examiner-Edgar W. Geoghegan Assistant Examiner-Barry Grossman [2!] Appl. No.: 96,461 Attorney-Robert W. B. Dickerson [52] U.S. Cl ..92/138, 74/104 [57] ABSTRACT 51 rm. Cl ..F01b 9/00 A device for translating longitudinal motion into rota- 5 Field f Search 2 3 5; 7 g9 104, 07 tional movement. Combination guide and tie rods are provided, along which one or more pistons run, which [56] References Cited pistons are linked to a rotatable yoke member by I removable linking means. Removal of such linking UNITED STATES PATENTS means permits piston movement without resultant yoke rotation. 3,26l,266 7/1966 Ledeen et al ..92/l38 2,987,888 6/1961 Crowell ..92/ 166 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ACTUATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ing the opening and closing of valves. Various power I sources are used to cause such activation, such as hydraulic means and/or power driven means which may be electro-mechanical, or oftentimes, the mere expending of human energy such as the rotation of a hand ful to cause such reciprocation without commensurate I yoke rotation. This characteristic, as well as a more rigid, unitary arrangement of the tie rod and cylinder has been provided by this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Affixed to a central housing is one or more cylinders. Each cylinder may contain a piston, such pistons being linked by a common piston rod. Joining the end caps of the cylinders are a pair of rods, along which the respective pistons slide. The central housing includes a rotatable or oscillatable yoke, which possesses means such as a key way, for linking a valve stem thereto. A removable linkage is provided for connecting the piston rod with the rotatable yoke. On removal .of such linking device, the piston rod may be reciprocated without any commensurate yoke rotation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is atop elevation, partly in section of the actuator;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. is a perspective of one of the access plates. 1

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Look first at FIG. 1., where a central housing is depicted. The housing has upper and lower cover plate members 11 and 15 respectively, such plates being conventionally affixed to peripheral wall '13 which extends substantially around the housing. These parts form an internal cavity within which is positioned much of the operative mechanism; later described.

To either side of the central housing, a cylinder is joined. These are represented as members 21 and 31. A pair of spaced rods 41 and 4 2 are shown to extend from one end of cylinder 21, through central housing 10 to the opposite end of cylinder 31. Both ends of each of the two rods may be threadedly affixed to fasteners 43 outside of cylinder head members 22 and 32. Thus,

these rods serve as tie rods continuously exerting a by piston rod 70, which is threadedly positioned at each end by a locking nut. Thus, the pistons sealingly engage the inner surface of the respective cylinders, more in unison by virtue of their being linked by piston rod 70, and may be activated by pressurized fluid which would enter and/or exit through ports like 33,34 and exert a force against one face of the pistons. Each piston con tains seals to permit sliding engagement with guide rods Means are provided for translating such longitudinal movement of the pistons and piston rod into rotational movement of an actuated device, such as causing the rotation of a valve stem. Positioned within, and extending through housing 10, is a rotatable yoke member. This yoke includes annular hub 61, and interior thereof, valve stem adapter 62, which adapter may include key ways for the positioning of a valve stem therein. Affixed to the outer periphery are a pair of spaced lugs 64,65, each of which is slotted, as at 66 in FIG. 1. Piston rod 70 carries va sleeve member 71, which rod and sleeve are apertured to receive a bushing 71. A removable pin 72 is insertalble within said bushing and extends exterior thereof on both sides. Track rollers 73 are removably positioned around each end of pin 72. Each roller includes an interior sleeve 74 which extends a somewhat greater distance toward the housing center than does the main portion of the roller. This extending portion is received by annular cut away portion 76 of cylindrical yoke rollers 75. Each yoke roller also includes lip 77, preventing slippage through yoke slot 66. Both upper and lower covers 11 and 12 are provided with raised rail portions 15 and 16 forming a guide way within which ride pin rollers 73. Centrally of these guide ways is ridge portion '17, which limits pin motion in the direction of the pins axis. This ridge is cut away at the location of removable pin examining plate 80. (There may be more than one of such removable plates.) This member 8, shown in perspective in FIG. 3, includes flat plate portion 81 which may be fastened to cover plate 11, as well as depending lug 82 which fits within the cut away portion of ridge 17. One end of pin 72 may have a threaded socket 73, or like means for receiving a tool to remove it. Thus, if desired, pin 72 can be positioned under one of such removable coverplates 83, and the plate removedrThe pin may then be withdrawn, without the necessity for withdrawing the yoke lug rollers. This permits piston rod 70 to be reciprocated without causing rotatory motion of the yoke, i.e., said yoke remains motionless. When such exercise is completed, the piston rod may be returned to the position so as to axially align' the four pins and bushing 71, wherein the pin72 may be rein serted, and plate returned to its position.

Bolts 91 are adjustably positioned in housing 10, so as to regulate the arc traversed by yoke lugs 64,65.

Thus, it should be noted that spaced combination tie rod and guide rods are provided which position and guide the pistons as well as tightly compress the various parts. Further, effective track or guide ways are provided to not only absorb forces but to effectively assist in causing rotation of the yoke member, and associated valve stem. Then, unique means are provided for permitting reciprocatory piston motion without permitting rotatory motion of the yoke. Although only a single embodiment has been depicted. for accomplishing the above, it should be apparent that numerous modifications would be possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is intended to be limited only by the following appended claims:

We claim:

1. An actuator comprising:

a housing portion:

a pair of cylinders joined to opposite sides of said housing;

a piston device reciprocably positioned within each of said cylinders, said pistons being linked to each other by a piston rod;

oscillatable means for activating a further device, said oscillatable means positioned within said housing;

means linking said reciprocating pistons to said rotatable means whereby said reciprocation of said pistons produces oscillation of said oscillatable means; and

combination means for guiding said pistons and for compressibly fixing said cylinders to said housing, said combination means comprising a pair of spaced rod members extending from one end of one of said cylinders through said one cylinder,

through said housing, and through the other of said cylinders to be fixed at the exterior of each of said cylinders, said pistons each having apertured portions slidably mounted on said rods.

2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein:

said oscillatable means includes a slotted portion;

said linking means includes a pin removably insertable through said piston rod and said slotted portion, said pin having rollers thereon for engaging said slotted portion; and

said housing includes a removable plate portion for providing access to said removable pin means whereby on said pin being removed, said pistons may reciprocate without causing said oscillatable means to oscillate.

3. The actuator of claim 1 wherein:

said housing includes, on opposite sides thereof, guideways for a pin, said pin forming a part of said linking means, said guideways including parallel rail portions so raised and spaced that the opposite ends of said pin rides between said rail portions on said opposite sides of said housing. 

1. An actuator comprising: a housing portion: a pair of cylinders joined to opposite sides of said housing; a piston device reciprocably positioned within each of said cylinders, said pistons being linked to each other by a piston rod; oscillatable means for activating a further device, said oscillatable means positioned within said housing; means linking said reciprOcating pistons to said rotatable means whereby said reciprocation of said pistons produces oscillation of said oscillatable means; and combination means for guiding said pistons and for compressibly fixing said cylinders to said housing, said combination means comprising a pair of spaced rod members extending from one end of one of said cylinders through said one cylinder, through said housing, and through the other of said cylinders to be fixed at the exterior of each of said cylinders, said pistons each having apertured portions slidably mounted on said rods.
 2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein: said oscillatable means includes a slotted portion; said linking means includes a pin removably insertable through said piston rod and said slotted portion, said pin having rollers thereon for engaging said slotted portion; and said housing includes a removable plate portion for providing access to said removable pin means whereby on said pin being removed, said pistons may reciprocate without causing said oscillatable means to oscillate.
 3. The actuator of claim 1 wherein: said housing includes, on opposite sides thereof, guideways for a pin, said pin forming a part of said linking means, said guideways including parallel rail portions so raised and spaced that the opposite ends of said pin rides between said rail portions on said opposite sides of said housing. 